CONTROL OF ACCOMODATION IN THEATRES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10063, 3 February 1909, Page 1

CONTROL OF ACCOMODATION IN THEATRES.

(Per Press Association.) Christ-church. February 2. An attempt was made at the Theatre Royal last night to thoroughly enforce tlu City Council's by-law. under which tlu person is held' to be entitled to the seat the number of which corresponds to tlu ticket received. Many patrons of tlu stalls and gallery declined' to occupy tlu seats to which their tickets corresponded and there was considerable confusion About twenty minutes to eight o'clock tlu Council's inspectors declared that it wa: impossible to carry the by-law into effect, and gave the representative of the lessee permission to let people take any seat* available. The Mayor, in the course of a statement to a Star reporter to-day. stated "The spirit of the by-law would be met by having a box plan for the gallery, and allowing people who bought tickets during the day to reserve their seats. There is not the least reason why this should not be -done. It is already done in otlu-r parts of the world. The theatre managers seem to be laying down the rule that patrons who pay only one shilling are not entitled to consideration. The matter will come before the Jiy-laws Committee again at its next meeting, and it may prove necessary to amend the by-law in the direction of making its requirements more specifir. You can be (piite sure that the matter is not going to rest where it ivs. In the meantime I suppose that things will go on as